I remember 12 weeks ago, I was thinking to myself: "Wow, what kind of blog post will I be writing in 12 weeks?" It felt like a long ways away. I have packed so much life and countless experiences into these last 12 weeks. The fact that this journey is actually drawing to a close absolutely blows my mind.
This past week has been no less exciting, in fact, it's actually been more exciting than some of the previous weeks. I spent the week running around the Faroe Islands, hiking every day for every minute of my limited daylight hours. Then, I took the ferry back to Denmark and flew to Copenhagen, where I'm spending the final days of my trip.
Wednesday:
I was feeling pretty exhausted, which makes sense, given the constant adventuring of the previous days. I got up anyway and drove back to Fuglafjordur on Esturoy, not sure exactly what I was going to do. I ended up sitting on the side of the road, taking a quick nap and trying to figure out where I was going to go. Eventually, I remembered a hike I'd heard about the day before, so I decided to go check it out. It ended up being perfect. Not overly strenuous, but still absolutely gorgeous. And there were so. Many. Sheep.
Thursday:
It was my last day on the Faroe Islands so I was determined to make the most out of it. This day ended up being one of the best days of my trip, and honestly, one of the best days of my whole entire life. It started with me meeting the hotel manager. He was super friendly and took me up to the roof to get a beautiful view over the city of Torshavn. He told me about the growth of tourism in the Faroe Islands as well. It's still a rising industry, but the islands are quickly becoming popular. A film crew was recently there filming a new James Bond movie and last year, the prince of Dubai paid the country a visit!
It was so cool to realize I was playing a part in helping this country gain some exposure. I hope the images I captured there will not only help the country's growth, but that people are inspired to help preserve the magical natural beauty that exists there.
Speaking of which, the place I visited next was like something straight out of a fairy tale. The hike around Lake Sørvágsvatn to Trælanípa Sea cliff is no secret in the Faroe Islands. In fact, it's probably the most well known place in the country. Despite the popularity, I knew I needed to see it with my own eyes. I paid the entrance fee and started hiking. After about 35 mins, I made it to the cliff. The view was unlike anything I'd ever seen. It was better than any photo I'd ever seen online. A steep hill rises from the side of the lake before sharply dropping 485 feet straight down to the crashing waves below. The scenery creates an optical illusion that cannot be fully understood until you're there, standing on that cliff. I watched hundreds of sea birds soar playfully around the cliffs, seemingly unfazed by the powerful winds.
I was waiting patiently for the sun to break out of the clouds and light up the rock, but after waiting for 30 minutes with no luck, I decided to continue on to the next viewpoint. I hiked back down the steep hill to the main trail and started walking. But suddenly, I noticed that in front of me, a hint of golden light was starting to illuminate the surrounding landscape. I turned around and saw that the light I'd waited for had finally been released from the shroud of cloud cover. The entire cliff side was glowing. And I was at the bottom of the hill. The photography cliche of "chasing the light" is 100% real. I have never run so hard in my life for the sole purpose of taking a photo. I sprinted and climbed back to that viewpoint as fast as my exhausted body possible could. The view had been phenomenal before, but now, it was even better. I struggle to find an adjective that comes close to describing it. But hey, they say a picture is worth a 1000 words, right? Hopefully these four images are worth somewhere close to 4000 nonexistent words for this moment.
Once the light show was over, I was actually ready to move on. Little did I know, the show was just getting started. I was hiking to the next viewpoint and as I got closer, the path became unclear and I was just climbing rocks, hoping that I was getting close to the right place. What happened next literally seems like something out of a dream or a kids' fairy tale movie.
I looked to my left, and standing near the cliff edge I saw the biggest hare I have ever seen in my life. It's hard for me to describe it very well because I only saw it for a moment, but take my word for it. This thing was white, fluffy, and BIG. It looked at me for a split second before disappearing behind the rocks. Obviously, I followed it around the corner. The hare was completely gone. There were no obvious hiding spots, so I was confused. But, it had led me to the correct path. I was at the viewpoint. Something about this view struck a nerve within me that only a few places ever have. I was completely in awe. I was ecstatic. I wanted to cry. I wanted to worship. Who knew it was possible to feel so many emotions from looking at some rocks? These weren't just any rocks though. They rose strikingly from the sea, towering hundreds of feet above the churning surface of the north sea. Hundreds, probably thousands of sea birds flew in the midst of these massive stones, occasionally doing flybys within close proximity of me and my camera. As if it wasn't good enough already, the sun broke through again. The stone turned to gold, dappled with shadow from the clouds, adding a truly unique contrast to the already stunning landscape. This elegant dance between shadow and light evolved continuously over the course of the hour I spent on that cliff. I was completely mesmerized, my camera and my eyes searching the scene for as many uniquely beautiful moments as I could possibly take in.
Eventually, it was time to pull myself away. I have never had such a hard time turning my back on a view, but it was time to leave, or so I thought. As I walked away, I suddenly felt this prompting to turn around one last time and to "go stand on that rock." Discerning the voice of God can be a challenge sometimes, but in this moment I'm 100% sure it was him. So you'd best believe I turned around and stood on the rock. I looked out into the endless expanse of the sea and felt the presence of my creator filling me with life. As I took in this view one last time, I realized that "this" is how much he loves us. As vastly as the sea, as powerfully as the waves, and with the beautifully powerful majesty of the towering pillars and cliffs of stone that filled my view. The way I felt about that view is the way he feels about humanity. That is the type of love he has for us, and that is the type of love we must have for each other.
Standing there, I felt an overwhelming sense of finality. This was what I came for. This is why I was sent on this journey. Now, it's time to prepare for the journey home and look towards the future.
Friday-Tuesday:
It's absolutely impossible to top "Thursday," so here's a very quick recap of the last few days:
I got back on the boat and sailed back to Denmark, thankfully avoiding seasickness this time around. After returning to the mainland, I flew from Aalborg to Copenhagen and met up with my friend Lea and her family once again. We went to her cousin's birthday party that night, but other than that, I have done nothing except for eat sleep, watch Netflix, edit photos, and write this blog post.
Conclusion:
This week was truly special. I experienced unimaginable beauty and had some moments that were incredibly formative for me.
That sense of finality I felt on that ocean-side cliff has led to an interesting combination of emotions. The end of this journey is bittersweet. It has been some of the best days of my life. I have learned so much, I have met so many incredible people, and I have witnessed natural beauty beyond my wildest dreams. I will miss this. On the other hand, I am excited beyond belief to be reunited with my family and friends and to start working on plans for the future.
This journey was truly just the beginning. The potential for the future is beyond imagining.
For you this week:
Remember the depth with which you are loved. Show that love to someone else.
Song for the week:
How Did I Get Here? (VIP Remix) - Odesza
This song holds a special place in my heart. It gives me a feeling of euphoria somewhat close to what I felt while I was on those cliffs above the sea. Put in some headphones, turn up the volume.
Thank you so much for following along on my travels for the last three months. I hope you've felt inspired. I hope you've felt challenged. I hope you've felt convicted. Whether it was these feelings, or something else entirely, I hope that in reading these posts, you've taken away something positive and experienced some level of personal growth, even if it was just something small.
There will be one final post next week after I'm home and have had a day or two to rest, reflect, and spend some much needed time with family and friends.
As always, chase your passions, stay stoked, love first and remember that fulfillment lies on the far side of discomfort.
Until next week,
- Zwiegs
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